Correlation Between Mid-Upper Arm Circumference and Body Mass Index in the Assessment of Adults' Nutritional Status in Malawi: Research Findings

Malawi faces significant challenges with both undernutrition and rising obesity rates. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely accepted indicator of adult nutritional status. However, measuring BMI can be impractical in large-scale studies or with bedridden patients due to the need for weight and height measurements. Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) offers a simple, reliable alternative, especially in resource-limited settings. This study analyzed anthropometric data from the Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU) to examine the relationship between BMI and MUAC across different sexes and rural-urban populations in Malawi.